NHL Review April 12, 2022

CONNOR HELPS JETS INCH CLOSER TO WILD CARD POSITION
Kyle Connor (0-1—1) factored on one of his team’s four goals to record a point in his ninth straight road game (8-8—16) as the Jets (35-28-11, 81 points) defeated the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre to move within five points of the Stars (41-27-4, 86 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Only three players in Jets/Thrashers history have registered at least a point in more consecutive road appearances: Neal Pionk (10 GP in 2020-21), Mark Scheifele (10 GP in 2020-21) and Todd White (10 GP in 2008-09).

• Connor boosted his 2021-22 road totals to 24-25—49 (35 GP). The only players with more road points this season are Auston Matthews (28-26—54 in 36 GP), Connor McDavid (22-32—54 in 36 GP), Leon Draisaitl (28-23—51 in 36 GP) and Roman Josi (11-39—50 in 36 GP).

SUZUKI HITS 200 CAREER GAMES, JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Monday saw Nick Suzuki (22 years, 244 days) collect an assist in his 200th career game and add to his 2021-22 totals (19-36—55 in 73 GP). He is currently on pace to become the second-youngest player in franchise history to lead Montreal in points at the end of a season, behind only John Quilty (20 years, 56 days; 18-16—34 in 1940-41).

• Since making his NHL debut with the Canadiens in 2019-20, Suzuki (47-90—137) leads the club in goals, assists and points.

28 TEAMS IN ACTION ON THIRD 14-GAME DAY OF 2021-22
Twenty-eight clubs will take to the ice across a 14-game Tuesday which features a number of players closing in on season milestones – including Auston Matthews who is nearing the 60-goal and 100-point mark – as well as the push for the remaining 11 berths in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with less than three weeks remaining in the regular season.

• Matthews (58-41—99 in 67 GP) sits one point shy of his first career 100-point season and the fifth in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Only three players in the past 26 years have recorded 60-plus goals and 100-plus points in a single campaign: Alex Ovechkin (65-47—112 in 2007-08 w/ WSH), Jaromir Jagr (62-87—149 in 1995-96 w/ PIT) and Mario Lemieux (69-92—161 in 1995-96 w/ PIT).
• Matthews has also found the back of the net in all but three of his appearances since March 1 (21-10—31 in 17 GP) and now sits two tallies shy of recording the first 60-goal season by a U.S.-born skater in NHL history and the first by any skater since Steven Stamkos in 2011-12 (60-37—97 in 82 GP). Stamkos prophetically predicted a 60-goal campaign was on the horizon for the Maple Leafs forward at the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.
• Johnny Gaudreau (34-65—99 in 72 GP) guides the Pacific Division-leading Flames (44-19-9, 97 points) into a clash with the Kraken and has his sights set on becoming the franchise’s first skater with a 100-point campaign since Theo Fleury (34-66—100 in 1992-93).
• With Oilers teammates Connor McDavid (42-66—108) and Leon Draisaitl (50-51—101) having already hit the mark, the 2021-22 campaign can become the NHL’s first since 1992-93 to see four-plus players on Canadian-based teams each record 100 points in a season. Six did so that year: Teemu Selanne (132 w/ WIN), Doug Gilmour (127 w/ TOR), Mats Sundin (114 w/ QUE), Joe Sakic (105 w/ QUE), Pavel Bure (110 w/ VAN) and Fleury (100 w/ CGY).
• Chris Krieder (49-21—70 in 73 GP) can record his first career 50-goal season when the Rangers (47-20-6, 100 points) clash with the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (47-18-8, 102 points). The 30-year-old forward can become the fourth skater to score 50-plus goals in a single campaign for the Rangers, joining Jaromir Jagr (54 in 2005-06), Adam Graves (52 in 1993-94) and Vic Hadfield (50 in 1971-72).
• The first- and second-overall picks in the 2021 NHL Draft could make their League debuts Tuesday, should Owen Power suit up for the Sabres and Matty Beniers dress for the Kraken. Power posted 3-29—32 in 33 games with the University of Michigan this season en route to claiming the NCAA’s B1G First All-Star Team honors, while teammate Beniers (20-23—43 in 36 GP) led the Wolverines in points.
• Power and Beniers became the first teammates in the modern NHL Draft to be selected 1-2 overall. There had been two previous occurrences in NHL Draft history, both more than 50 years ago. In 1963, the first draft in League history saw teammates Garry Monahan (No. 1 by MTL) and Peter Mahovlich (No. 2 by DET) selected from the St. Michael’s Juveniles. Six years later, in 1969, the top two picks were the Montreal Junior Canadiens duo of Rejean Houle (No. 1 by MTL) and Marc Tardif (No. 2 by MTL).

PENGUINS’ MALKIN SUSPENDED FOUR GAMES FOR CROSS-CHECKING

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for four games, without pay, for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki during NHL Game No. 1157 in Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 10, 2022. The incident occurred at 20:00 of the second period. Malkin was assessed a double-minor penalty for high-sticking.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Malkin will forfeit $190,000.00. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Video details a full explanation of the decision.

DETROIT RECALLS TARO HIROSE FROM GRAND RAPIDS
The Detroit Red Wings have recalled left wing Taro Hirose from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.

TOMORROW’S SEATTLE AT WINNIPEG GAME POSTPONED

Tomorrow night’s game between the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre has been postponed due to expected extreme weather conditions in Winnipeg beginning later today. The game has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 1, at 1 p.m. CT. The decision to postpone the game at this time was made in order to minimize the potential disruption to the regular-season schedule in the event the severe weather that is expected to hit the Winnipeg area were not only to force cancellation of tomorrow night’s game, but also prevents timely and necessary post-game travel, including, specifically, the Jets’ ability to travel for their game in Florida on Friday, April 15.